Topping (class D and B) vs Arcam and Rotel (class A/B)

[SIY]

My comparison is only personal and only for me because...

...I don't use basic controls in my comparisons, so my own imagination creates the differences. Your imagination will be different than mine."

 

[Svend P]

Did you read my post above you?

Yes. And you didn't read anything of what I linked to. I'll make it easy on you:

 

[jeroboam]

My comparison is only personal and only for me because i hear sound different as other people. I have the SMSL AO300 which i listen all day, best amp for its price.
I am not going to listen to all the amps in the store, life is to short for that

If as you say your comparison is only personal and only for you because you hear sound '' different as other people'' then why did you come to the forum asking for peoples opinions and, in my opinion, wasting their time?.

 

[Matias]

I would choose:
Nord NC502MP + Topping E70 velvet

Nord One MP NC502 Stereo Power Amplifier - Nord Acoustics Ltd

MP, our entry level stereo range, now we say "entry level" but to get similar performance from traditional dealers big brands you would be looking at

nordacoustics.co.uk

IMO people underrate the NC502MP. SINAD around 98 with 600W of power in a small case, with XLR and trigger inputs, and you are done. Great sound quality and lots of power for any speaker.

Or Audiophonics if you prefer another chassis.

AUDIOPHONICS AP300-S500NC Power Amplifier NCore NC502MP

The Audiophonics AP300-S500NC is a stereo amplifier based on a Hypex Ncore NC502MP amplifier module. It is ideal for providing a significant power reserve (2x500W @ 4Ω) without sacrificing sound reproduction quality.

www.audiophonics.fr

 

[JeremyFife]

Most people tend to choose the Rotel amp here and after reading all the reviews, the sound signature seems best for me.
So yesterday i went to listen to the Rotel 14MKII and the Atoll IN100 Signature (with optional DAC DA200 build in) in my music store.
Those 2 amps have a much deeper and better controlled bass, they also give more punch and kick to the speakers then my class D amplifiers.
I am going to make a choise between the Rotel 1500€ amp and the Atoll 1600€ amp with leaning towards to the Atol more. And yeah my budget is grown a bit
Good that the seller showed me the Atoll amp. I had never heard of Atoll before, its a french company which i like.

View attachment 396692
This is a good review describing the Atoll amp. (My favorite reviewer on YT)

Your choice, your amp - it will be fine and you are happy.
I'd just check the Atoll warranty as it's a bit of an unknown (to me anyway).

 

[Vladimir Filevski]

My comparison is only personal and only for me because i hear sound different as other people. I have the SMSL AO300 which i listen all day, best amp for its price.
I am not going to listen to all the amps in the store, life is to short for that

OK, you don't have to listen to different amplifiers in the same store, you can listen to other amplifiers in your home. You believe Rotel and Atoll "have a much deeper and better controlled bass", but how you can tell that difference in the sound is coming from the amplifiers and not from the different acoustics in your home and in the store?
Did your loudspeakers in your home are the same as loudspeakers in the store? If not, how you can tell that difference in the sound is coming from the amplifiers and not from the loudspeakers?

 

[antcollinet]

Those 2 amps have a much deeper and better controlled bass, they also give more punch and kick to the speakers then my class D amplifiers.
I am going to make a choise between the Rotel 1500€ amp and the Atoll 1600€ amp with leaning towards to the Atol more.

You are likely going to be disappointed when you get whichever you choose home, and compare it with your class D in your room, with your speakers.

If you accurately level match, and down't know which you are listening to, you are going to be unable to hear a difference. I would suggest making sure you have a return option.

 

[Mike_Trueman]

You are likely going to be disappointed when you get whichever you choose home, and compare it with your class D in your room, with your speakers.

If you accurately level match, and down't know which you are listening to, you are going to be unable to hear a difference. I would suggest making sure you have a return option.

Yeah the return policy is 14 days in our local store and they have 7 listening rooms.

Luisterruimtes

Producten beluisteren en ervaren? Dat mogelijk bij iEar'! We hebben zelfs de allerbeste luisterruimtes en experience rooms!

iear.nl

I'm not someone who buys things impulsively. I take my time when I buy audio, i read all the reviews and I listen to the hi-fi equipment in a local audio store before buying.
I am also buying new bigger bookshelf loudspeakers maybe this year, so slowly upgrading. (looking @ SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf 6.5")

It will never be 100% prefect but it will be close to my taste so i can enjoy music every day.

 

[Mr.Fabulous]

Been away for a few years (issues with my provider and my job), it’s fun to be back! I’m a 65yo EE and I just love reading this stuff, makes me feel like a kid again.

I have a mid-90s Proceed Amp2 (Class A)… and at the same purchase, a Proceed Pre-2 (pre-amp, push/pull). You can comfortably heat a can of soup on my Amp2… and I get a kick out of that. For reasons way too complicated to waste your time with, a few years ago I replaced that Pre-2 with an NAD M12 (Class A). I keep the Pre-2 around as a cold spare. I also have a cold spare Amp2, purchased here years ago.

The difference in sound quality (same amp, same source, same speakers, same room) between that mid-90s Pre-2 and my NAD M12 is *staggering*. And I cannot overstate that. I am never leaving Class-A.

- m

 

[SIY]

The difference in sound quality (same amp, same source, same speakers, same room) between that mid-90s Pre-2 and my NAD M12 is *staggering*.

How did you verify that the difference was sound quality and not psychological (which can be VERY convincing!)?

 

[caught gesture]

The difference in sound quality (same amp, same source, same speakers, same room) between that mid-90s Pre-2 and my NAD M12 is *staggering*.

Such anecdotal observations can only truly be verified if a wife/partner with no interest in audio equipment comments that they can hear a difference while listening from another room. The preference seems to be that the other room is the kitchen. That’s gold standard scientific authority.

 

[Fledermaus]

FWIW, considering the objective side of things, Atoll doesn't particularly shine in amps nor DACs (not to speak about reliability, at least on older models).
That's a contender I'd eliminate with little regret, if any.

 

[Mike_Trueman]

Stop reviving this old thread.

I bought the NAD M10 V3 and it is a good solution for my desktop setup.

 

[AdamG]

Stop reviving this old thread.

I bought the NAD M10 V3 and it is a good solution for my desktop setup.

All you had to do was ask! It’s your thread and it’s now locked.